Key Takeaways
- Yemen as a Transit Hub: Yemen remains a crucial transit route for African migrants, even amid a protracted conflict and widespread instability.
- Suad’s Story: The life of Suad illustrates the grim realities of migration, including violence, exploitation, and forced marriages.
- Role of Humanitarian Organizations: Programs such as the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) by IOM provide life-saving support and safe passage for migrants returning home.
- Heightened Risks for Women: Women migrants face amplified dangers, including gender-based violence, underscoring the need for specialized protective measures.
- Funding Crisis: Chronic underfunding jeopardizes critical humanitarian efforts, leaving migrants vulnerable and humanitarian organizations strained.
Amid Yemen’s ongoing turmoil, the country stands as both a place of peril and hope for thousands of African migrants who traverse its rugged landscapes. Suad*, a 25-year-old Ethiopian woman, embodies the resilience and suffering of those making this harrowing journey. Her story, like many others, starts with dreams of a better future but unfolds as a tale of hardship, survival, and unyielding will.
Suad’s journey began in her small Ethiopian village, where poverty left her family desperate for an escape. Lured by smugglers promising quick passage to the Gulf countries, she boarded a rickety boat in Djibouti, crossing treacherous waters to Yemen. The journey, though brief in theory, dragged on for days under fierce winds and scant food. Upon reaching Yemen, Suad faced the unforgiving desert, walking for days with dwindling hope and mounting fear.
Yemen’s decade-long conflict and fragile statehood make it an unusual but essential transit hub for migrants. In 2024 alone, over 16,000 migrants entered Yemen, many unaware of the war’s harsh realities. They arrive seeking safety but often encounter exploitation, trafficking, and gender-based violence. For Suad, the perils escalated when smugglers coerced her into marrying a Yemeni man to maintain her stay.
Her brief respite with her husband and two children ended tragically when he succumbed to illness, leaving her stranded and destitute. Without documents, resources, or familial support, Suad endured relentless challenges. Despite this, her determination led her to the Migrant Response Point (MRP) in Aden. Here, under the guidance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), she found temporary relief, essential medical care, and assistance to navigate her next steps.
MRPs like the one in Aden act as critical lifelines for migrants. They provide not just emergency aid but also a pathway to the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) program, which facilitates safe and dignified repatriation. In 2024, more than 4,000 migrants returned home through the program, receiving medical checks, food, and travel kits. For Suad, this support offered hope for reunion with her last surviving family member, her brother in Ethiopia.
Yet, the need far outpaces the resources available. The IOM, along with 48 other partners, appealed for $112 million under the Regional Migrant Response Plan (MRP) for the Horn of Africa and Yemen. These funds aim to address the humanitarian crisis along this migratory route. However, the appeal remains severely underfunded, leaving countless migrants vulnerable and the organizations stretched thin.
Women like Suad face unique and grave challenges. Many female migrants endure gender-based violence, exploitation, and psychological trauma that silence their voices. The role of organizations like IOM is crucial in restoring dignity and enabling these women to heal and rebuild. Suad’s experience reflects the broader need for sustained international attention and robust funding to protect the most vulnerable and support their journeys toward safety and stability.
Yemen’s position on the Eastern migration route is paradoxical. It is simultaneously a land of danger and a fragile beacon of hope. While conflict and instability dominate, the efforts of humanitarian organizations provide a flicker of light for those like Suad who dare to dream of better lives. However, these efforts need greater international support to endure and expand.
